névé

American  

[ney-vey] / neɪˈveɪ /

noun

1. granular snow accumulated on high mountains and subsequently compacted into glacial ice.

2. a field of such snow.

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névé British  

/ ˈnɛveɪ /

noun

1. Also called: firn.  a mass of porous ice, formed from snow, that has not yet become frozen into glacier ice

2. a snowfield at the head of a glacier that becomes transformed into ice

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névé Scientific  

/ nā-vā′ /

1. The upper part of a glacier, consisting of hardened snow.

2. The granular snow typically found in such a field.

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Etymology

Origin of névé

1850–55; < Franco-Provençal < Vulgar Latin *nivātum, noun use of neuter of Latin nivātus snow-cooled, equivalent to niv- (stem of nix snow ) + -ātus -ate ¹

Example Sentences

The last mile, névé predominating and therefore the pulling a trifle harder, we have risen into the upper basin of the glacier.

From Scott's Last Expedition Volume I by Scott, Robert Falcon

For I hate the long snow-fields, the vast plains of névé with their glare and their infinite infernal monotony.

From A Tramp's Notebook by Roberts, Morley

That part of a glacier which lies above the snow-line is styled névé; it is the fountain-head and source of supply to the glacier proper, which is the part that lies below the snow-line.

From Rivers of Ice by Ballantyne, R. M. (Robert Michael)

They are always a danger, like the snow cornice and the névé.

From The Silent Barrier by Tracy, Louis

At the lunch camp the snow covering was less than a foot, and at this it is a bare nine inches; patches of ice and hard névé are showing through in places.

From Scott's Last Expedition Volume I by Scott, Robert Falcon